Testimony resumes in Sandusky U.S. sex abuse trial

BELLEFONTE, Pa., June 12 (Reuters) - Testimony resumes onTuesday in the child sex abuse trial of Jerry Sandusky afterthe first witness graphically accused the former Penn Statefootball coach of years of molestation.

The 28-year-old man - one of eight alleged victims ofSandusky due to be prosecution witnesses - told jurors on thefirst day of trial on Monday he had kept silent about the scoresof times he was allegedly abused because he was ashamed.

The slender, dark-haired white man said he also did not wantto lose the benefits of being with the well-known coach,including gifts, trips to football bowl games and attention.

But he had decided to speak out when he realized that otherboys, now men, had been abused as well, he said in Centre CountyCourt.

"If I had said something back then they wouldn't have hadthis happen to them," said the witness. He met Sandusky at about13 in 1996 or 1997 and testified he was abused sexually,including performing oral sex, for three or four years.

Reuters' policy is not to identify victims of sexual crimes.

Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator in PennsylvaniaState University's high-powered football program, faces 52counts of abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. If convicted onall counts, he faces more than 500 years in prison.

PENN STATE SHOWERS

Prosecutors allege Sandusky had physical contact with theboys, known in court documents as Victims 1 to 10, that rangedfrom tickling and a "soap battle" in Penn State showers to oraland anal sex.

Sandusky is accused of using the Second Mile, a charity hefounded in 1977, to prey on needy young boys.

The abuse charges prompted the firing of revered coach JoePaterno, the winningest college football coach, and universityPresident Graham Spanier last November.

The charges also brought an unprecedented focus on childsexual abuse in the United States.

In his opening arguments on Monday, prosecutor JosephMcGettigan III called Sandusky a "predatory pedophile." He urgedthe jury to listen to his alleged victims as though they werechildren.

Handwritten letters allegedly sent by Sandusky to thewitness also were placed into evidence by the prosecution.

Joe Amendola, Sandusky's attorney, indicated that the formercoach could take the witness stand.

He told jurors in his opening statement that the formercoach would tell them about his youth and how taking showerswith other people had been common when he was growing up inWashington, Pennsylvania, where his parents ran a recreationcenter.

Amendola also suggested that the accusers could be out formoney, saying that six of the eight men, including Monday'switness, had hired attorneys.

Judge John Cleland has said the trial could be completed bythe end of the month.

Media covering the trial have flooded Bellefonte, a smalltown about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of State College, theuniversity's home. Dozens of television satellite trucks havesurrounded the Greek Revival courthouse, and reporters tramplethe lawn.

But the courtroom itself was only about three-quarters fullon Monday, mostly with reporters, with relatively few localspectators.